Stand in solidarity with Burma's political prisoners

The more we work with human rights activists around the world, the more we become aware of the impact a simple message of solidarity can have. This summer we asked you to stand in solidarity with the many political prisoners in Burma today. This petition is now closed. Find out about our ongoing campaign for human rights in Burma

Thanks to an overwhelming response we presented a petition of more than 8,000 pictures to world leaders at the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) 2010 summit.

A huge thank you to everybody that took the time to upload a picture. By adding your photo to our collection, you didn't just offer support to Burma's political prisoners. You also joined the brave individuals who, having been imprisoned for peaceful political action themselves, have already risked their freedom to stand in solidarity with those who remain in prison. These activists used this small act of defiance to show that they cannot be free while 2,200 others continue to be punished for legitimate protest. Find out more about the inspiration for this action

All the photos have been collected and we are taking them to the summit meeting of political leaders from South East Asia in Viet Nam this weekend. We are calling on these leaders to press for freedom for Burma's political prisoners, and real human rights for Burma. Your pictures have helped our voice get 8,000 times louder. Thank you. 

Produced by Amnesty International UK and Handcrafted Films

The inspiration for our photo action

Amnesty's action this year on Burma was inspired by the work of James Mackay, a London-based freelance documentary photographer who has photographed more than 160 former Burmese political prisoners now located all around the world - some still in Burma.

For the self-funded project, entitled 'Even Though I'm Free I Am Not', James is travelling around the world, including Burma, to photograph and interview former political prisoners who are coming together to raise awareness for their colleagues who remain in jail. He is working in collaboration with the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) and Democratic Voice of Burma.

The lives of Burma's political prisoners have very much become Mackay's life. It is in his unique position of trust and belief from those with whom he works in the democracy movement that he has been able to portray these very poignant and compelling life stories of Burma's political prisoners who have suffered such brutality under the ruling military regime.

Amnesty cases

Karenni youth activists

Khun Bedu, Khun Kawrio and Khun Dee De are all leading members of the activist group Kayan New Generation Youth (KGNY). They were arrested in May 2008 for organising a group of local dissidents to release balloons, launch paper boats and spray-paint walls with peaceful political messages.

Khun Bedu, 26, joined KGNY in 2004 and was appointed joint secretary three years later. He has been sentenced to 37 years and is detained in Taungoo prison. On arrival, he was put in solitary confinement and kept there for eight days. Find out more

Khun Dee De, 27, was involved in human rights education and youth activism as part of Kayah State Youth, an umbrella organisation under which KGNY sits. He was sentenced to 35 years in prison and is detained in Mandalay prison. Find out more

Khun Kawrio, 26, Joined KGNY in 2006 and worked as an activist and educator, specialising in human rights and democracy. He was sentenced to 37 years and is detained in Meiktila prison. Find out more

 

The '88 Generation Students

Htay Kywe, Mie Mie and Zaw Htet Ko Ko are members of the pro-democracy group The 88 Generation Students. Set up in 2005, the group is inspired by the ideals of the pro democracy protests of 1988, and includes many of the leaders of that uprising. The three were arrested in 2007 for participating in mass anti-government protests that swept through Burma.

Htay Kywe, 42, was a student leader in the 1988 uprising. He served a 15 year sentence for his involvement. A co-founder of the 88 generation students group, Htay Kywe was sentenced to 65 years for his involvement in the 2007 protests. Find out more

Mie Mie, 40, participated in the 1988 protests while she was still in high school. In 2007, she led a women's movement march the day after prominent activists had been arrested for their role in the protests. Mie Mie was sentenced to 65 years for her involvement in the 2007 protests. Find out more

Zaw Htet Ko Ko, 29, is married with one child. During the government crackdown on the 2007 protests the authorities raided his home, threatening and harassing his family. Zaw Htet Htet Ko Ko was sentenced to 11 years for his involvement in those protests and is detained in Kyaukpyu prison. Find out more

Zarganar

Zarganar, one of Burma's biggest comedians, is serving a 35-year prison sentence for leading a movement raising money for survivors of Cyclone Nargis. He was arrested after giving interviews to foreign journalists in which he criticised the Burmese government's handling of the relief situation. Find out more

Su Su Nway

Labour activist Su Su Nway is serving an eight-and-a-half-year prison sentence for taking part in anti-government protests in 2007. She first came to prominence in 2004 as the first person in Burma to successfully prosecute local officials for imposing forced labour. She is in poor health and held in a prison one thousand kilometres from home.